CMS Expands Workers’ Compensation Reporting Requirements with No New Statutory or Regulatory Authority
On February 23, 2024 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an alert seeking to expand the Section 111 reporting requirements for Non Group Health Plans (NGHPs) See MMSEA S111 GHP Alert (cms.gov). The expansion goes well beyond the general statutory requirement in 42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(7)&(b)(8), and would impact self-insured employers, workers’ compensation plans, and injured workers with [...]
Coalition Applauds Bi-Partisan Legislation To Improve Administration of Medicare With Workers’ Compensation
Legislation supported by UWC and a coalition of stakeholders in workers’ compensation has been introduced to address the need for clarification when there are workers’ compensation settlements involving employees who are also Medicare eligible. The appropriate determination of amounts to be paid under the applicable workers’ compensation law and Medicare has been an issue for many years without specific legislative [...]
US Senate Finance Committee Releases Joint Outline for Unemployment Insurance Program Improvements
On February 8, 2024, Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-NC) released a framework of Unemployment Insurance Program Improvements. (see below). The framework reflects some of the features of the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act (S 1587) and (HR 1163) that have been supported by UWC. No legislative draft language is available at this [...]
US DOL Details UI Modernization Reporting Check List
On February 2, 2024, USDOL released a check list for UI Modernization Reports to be submitted by states implementing UI Modernization projects. ETA 9177 Report (Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist Report Version 1) through July 31, 2026. See Extension of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) 9177 Report (Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist Report Version 1) for State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Information Technology (IT) Modernization [...]
US DOL Releases State CARES Waiting Week Payment Reconciliation Requirements
May Impact UI Trust Funds On January 19, 2024, the US DOL released guidance with state requirements with respect to reporting and reconciliation of federal reimbursements for payments for the unemployment compensation waiting week. See Instructions for Reconciling Funds Made Available to States Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Section 2105 (dol.gov).The CARES Act and the [...]
Connecticut Pays Off Title XII Loan – Avoids FUTA Tax Increase for 2023
On November 8th, Connecticut Governor Lamont announced that the state was paying of the loan from the federal government that was used to pay unemployment compensation in Connecticut. See the Governor's press release at Governor Lamont 's press release reporting that Connecticut paid off pandemic-era Unemployment Trust Fund debt in advance of the November 10, 2023, deadline. Connecticut Commissioner of [...]